Joe Decamillis

The Sports Xchange Cowboys hire longtime assistant to lead special teams Dallas has turned to Rich Bisaccia, a veteran NFL and college assistant to be its next special teams coach. "Rich has been among the top special teams coordinators in the NFL for the last decade," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said in a statement. "He combines a tremendous amount of expertise to go along with outstanding teaching ability. His units play with a relentless spirit that we believe...

The interesting topic the Bears haven't tackled yet is roster management if Devin Hester is going to be a return specialist and used strictly on special teams. That would put the team in a position where four specialists were needed rather than the typical three. But coach Marc Trestman said Tuesday it is early and after Hester earns a roster spot as a returner, other possibilities will be considered. It's unusual for teams to have a return man not be...

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery is looking in many places to find the next head coach of the Bears, including in his own back yard. Among the candidates who have interviewed for the position is Bears special teams coach Dave Toub, a source said. Toub has been a head-coaching candidate in the past. He interviewed with the Dolphins for their vacancy last year. He is the fourth special teams coach who is a known candidate. The others are Keith Armstrong of the...

Devin Hester said he was "reenergized" with his streamlined role for the Chicago Bears on Tuesday and it's possible he will be a part of the team's coverage units. Hester is participating in all special teams drills, including ones set up to practice covering kicks and tackling dummy pads. “He's been a great returner in his career and we want to add to that as much as we can,” special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said. “He's definitely going to be fresher to do those things...

The Sports Xchange Report: Bears to interview Trestman The Chicago Bears plan to interview Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman for their head coaching job, the NFL Network reported Saturday. ESPN reported that the Canadian Football League coach will interview with the Bears on Monday. Trestman is signed with the Alouettes through 2016, but the team may let him out of the contract. A source with the Alouettes told ESPN that the team's ownership is "usually pretty good...

It was not a surprise last week when Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker confirmed the team would be sticking with a base 4-3 defense. Maybe it didn't sit well with those pining for a switch, even though the Bears don't have the personnel to make the conversion. But it is something that Joe DeCamillis believes enhances his special teams unit. Given his choice, DeCamillis would prefer to coach special teams for a team using a 4-3 scheme because of the crop of...

Devin Hester said he was "reenergized" with his streamlined role for the Chicago Bears on Tuesday and it's possible he will be a part of the team's coverage units. Hester is participating in all special teams drills, including ones set up to practice covering kicks and tackling dummy pads. “He's been a great returner in his career and we want to add to that as much as we can,” special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said. “He's definitely going to be fresher to do those things...

For the first time since 2002 the Bears did not have a return touchdown in 2012. But that didn't signal a poor performance on special teams in the final season under coordinator Dave Toub, who departed to rejoin longtime friend Andy Reid with the Chiefs. As it turned out, the only way Toub was going to remain with the Bears was if he had been hired as head coach. He was one of five candidates with a special teams background that general manager Phil Emery interviewed. Joe DeCamillis...

If the Bears don't hire Dave Toub as head coach, their special teams coordinator likely will have opportunities elsewhere. While Toub remains under contract through 2013, general manager Phil Emery has granted him permission to explore options elsewhere in the event he is not selected for promotion. Toub interviewed with Panthers coach Ron Rivera on Wednesday, first reported by the Charlotte Observer, and a source told the Tribune he will talk with the Chiefs next. Meanwhile, on the Bears' front, Emery...

The Sports Xchange Cowboys hire longtime assistant to lead special teams Dallas has turned to Rich Bisaccia, a veteran NFL and college assistant to be its next special teams coach. "Rich has been among the top special teams coordinators in the NFL for the last decade," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said in a statement. "He combines a tremendous amount of expertise to go along with outstanding teaching ability. His units play with a relentless spirit that we believe...

The interesting topic the Bears haven't tackled yet is roster management if Devin Hester is going to be a return specialist and used strictly on special teams. That would put the team in a position where four specialists were needed rather than the typical three. But coach Marc Trestman said Tuesday it is early and after Hester earns a roster spot as a returner, other possibilities will be considered. It's unusual for teams to have a return man not be...

Lance Briggs noticed coaching qualities in Chris Harris from the start. The Bears linebacker saw a teammate willing to speak his mind and a player passionate with his tone. “Chris is great,” Briggs said Monday. “He's always been a student of the game. I won't be surprised to see him as a head coach someday. “Chicago is a great start for him.” Just a few days after Harris announced his retirement on Twitter, the ex-Bears safety reunited with his former team...

Bears general manager Phil Emery and head coaching candidate Joe DeCamillis might have an interesting off-topic conversation during a scheduled interview Saturday in Dallas. DeCamillis, the Cowboys' special teams coordinator, was part of a national story in May 2009 when storms caused the collapse of the team's indoor practice facility, injuring DeCamillis and scouting assistant Rich Behm. Behm was permanently paralyzed from the waist down, while DeCamillis endured...

The last time Marc Trestman stood on the opposite sideline from Brian Urlacher in a regular-season game, the Bears were playing in the remodeled Soldier Field for only the second time. It was 2003, Trestman was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders and Urlacher was in his fourth season, two years away from being named the NFL's defensive player of the year. There are many questions surrounding Urlacher, who will turn 35 in May, and the Bears new coach didn't have a...

Keith Armstrong was one of the first three names to become public in the Bears' search for a head coach. The special teams coach for the Falcons would fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement that general manager Phil Emery interview at least one minority candidate as Armstrong is African-American. But it has become clear Emery isn't averse to thinking outside the box for a new coach and looking at the model the Ravens have created with John Harbaugh, a former special teams coach for the...

The Sports Xchange Coaching Tracker: Eagles interview Whisenhunt Arizona Cardinals Out: Ken Whisenhunt Comment: Whisenhunt engineered by far the most successful run in franchise history, but it might have been time for a change for everyone involved after a disastrous 2012 season that ended with journeyman Brian Hoyer at quarterback. GM Rod Graves is also out, and the franchise collapsed under the poor talent evaluations at quarterback and across the offensive line. ...

The last time Marc Trestman stood on the opposite sideline from Brian Urlacher in a regular-season game, the Bears were playing in the remodeled Soldier Field for only the second time. It was 2003, Trestman was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders and Urlacher was in his fourth season, two years away from being named the NFL's defensive player of the year. There are many questions surrounding Urlacher, who will turn 35 in May, and the Bears new coach didn't have a...

The Sports Xchange Coaching Tracker: McCoy hot commodity Arizona Cardinals Out: Ken Whisenhunt Comment: Whisenhunt engineered by far the most successful run in franchise history, but it might have been time for a change for everyone involved after a disastrous 2012 season that ended with journeyman Brian Hoyer at quarterback. GM Rod Graves is also out, and the franchise collapsed under the poor talent evaluations at quarterback and across the offensive line. Candidates:...

As the number of teams searching for a head coach shrinks, the list of candidates for the Chicago Bears continues to grow. General manager Phil Emery has requested and been granted permission to interview Houston Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, according to ESPN. Dennison becomes the ninth candidate to be identified on Emery's list and the seventh with an offensive background. NFL rules dictate that Emery will have an opportunity to meet with Dennison this week before...

The Sports Xchange Coaching Tracker: GM hires spur searches Arizona Cardinals Out: Ken Whisenhunt Comment: Whisenhunt engineered by far the most successful run in franchise history, but it might have been time for a change for everyone involved after a disastrous 2012 season that ended with journeyman Brian Hoyer at quarterback. GM Rod Graves is also out, and the franchise collapsed under the poor talent evaluations at quarterback and across the offensive line. ...